What connects Mahatma Gandhi and Japan?
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Mahatma Gandhi, the iconic Indian leader of the nonviolent struggle for India's independence, may seem an unlikely figure to have a significant connection with Japan. However, beneath the surface, a profound and enduring bond exists between Gandhi and the Land of the Rising Sun. This connection is rooted in shared values, philosophies, and historical moments that have left an indelible mark on the relationship between India and Japan.
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Japan in 2019, he had revealed the connection between Japan and the three famous monkeys that Father of the Nation cited to teach people about the evil.
These three monkeys were found in a carving above a door of the famous Tosho-gu shrine in the 17th-century in the Japanese city of Nikko. The carvings were done by Hidari Jingoro, and believed to have incorporated Confucius’s Code of Conduct, using the monkey as a way to depict man’s life cycle. A considerable number of stone monuments can be found all over the eastern part of Japan around Tokyo.
The saying in Japanese is mizaru, kikazaru, iwazaru which translates to "see not, hear not, speak not", where the suffix, zaru, is a negative connotation. The shrine at Nikko is a Shinto shrine, and the monkey is an extremely important being in the Shinto religion. After incorporating it in his teachings, Gandhi also had a small statue of the three monkeys whom he had named Bapu, Ketan and Bandar.
PM had also stated that there are a few points "in our language too that bind us together". Citing some examples, he said, "What we call 'dhyan' (meditation) in India is called 'Zen' in Japan and what we call 'seva' (service) in India is also called 'seva' in Japan."
For him, Japan became a symbol of success that Indians should emulate: "We should follow the example of Japan and unite, become industrious and educate ourselves." It should be noted, however, that Gandhi was praising the bravery of the Japanese people, not their victory which was a symbol of the country embarking on the road to Western imperialism.
Mahatma Gandhi's profound connection with Japanese monks is a testament to the universality of his principles of nonviolence and spirituality. During his lifetime, Gandhi's teachings on ahimsa (nonviolence) and satyagraha (truth force) resonated deeply with Japanese Buddhist monks, who were drawn to his message of peace and moral resistance. Gandhi further solidified this bond, as he engaged in dialogues with Japanese spiritual leaders and scholars. These interactions fostered a mutual admiration and understanding, reinforcing the idea that the pursuit of truth and justice transcends cultural boundaries. The influence of Gandhi's philosophy can still be felt in the shared commitment to nonviolence and social harmony among Japanese monks and their Indian counterparts.
Gandhi's Three Monkeys and Japan
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Japan in 2019, he had revealed the connection between Japan and the three famous monkeys that Father of the Nation cited to teach people about the evil.
Notably, the three proverbial principles, "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil", comes from the three famous monkeys from 17th century Japan. The three monkeys are Mizaru (covering his eyes and who sees no evil), Kikazaru (covering his ears and who hears no evil) and Iwazaru (covering his mouth and who speaks no evil.)
Addressing the Indian diaspora at Kobe in Japan, PM Modi said the famous monkeys which convey the message against evil is known to everyone but very few know that the pictorial maxim found their origin was in Japan.
These three monkeys were found in a carving above a door of the famous Tosho-gu shrine in the 17th-century in the Japanese city of Nikko. The carvings were done by Hidari Jingoro, and believed to have incorporated Confucius’s Code of Conduct, using the monkey as a way to depict man’s life cycle. A considerable number of stone monuments can be found all over the eastern part of Japan around Tokyo.
The saying in Japanese is mizaru, kikazaru, iwazaru which translates to "see not, hear not, speak not", where the suffix, zaru, is a negative connotation. The shrine at Nikko is a Shinto shrine, and the monkey is an extremely important being in the Shinto religion. After incorporating it in his teachings, Gandhi also had a small statue of the three monkeys whom he had named Bapu, Ketan and Bandar.
Do you know what connects Mahatma Gandhi and Japan?
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 27, 2019
Find out in this video. pic.twitter.com/7tc4IcU6XM
PM had also stated that there are a few points "in our language too that bind us together". Citing some examples, he said, "What we call 'dhyan' (meditation) in India is called 'Zen' in Japan and what we call 'seva' (service) in India is also called 'seva' in Japan."
Gandhi lauds Japanese forces during the Japan-Russia war
In relation to Japan's war with Russia in 1904-5, in his South African newspaper Indian Opinion, Gandhi commented on the ongoing battle between Japanese and Russian forces near the Manchurian town of Mukden and when the scale of the Japanese victory had become evident, Gandhi noted that "No one ever imagined that Japan was capable of such bravery ... This was no ordinary deed of daring. Such courage is incomparable." He decided that the secret of Japan's "epic heroism" was "unity, patriotism and the resolve to do or die".
For him, Japan became a symbol of success that Indians should emulate: "We should follow the example of Japan and unite, become industrious and educate ourselves." It should be noted, however, that Gandhi was praising the bravery of the Japanese people, not their victory which was a symbol of the country embarking on the road to Western imperialism.
Gandhi and Japanese Monks
Mahatma Gandhi's profound connection with Japanese monks is a testament to the universality of his principles of nonviolence and spirituality. During his lifetime, Gandhi's teachings on ahimsa (nonviolence) and satyagraha (truth force) resonated deeply with Japanese Buddhist monks, who were drawn to his message of peace and moral resistance. Gandhi further solidified this bond, as he engaged in dialogues with Japanese spiritual leaders and scholars. These interactions fostered a mutual admiration and understanding, reinforcing the idea that the pursuit of truth and justice transcends cultural boundaries. The influence of Gandhi's philosophy can still be felt in the shared commitment to nonviolence and social harmony among Japanese monks and their Indian counterparts.
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